Welsh regions ready for LV Cup battle again: Team news

BLUES captain Andries Pretorius returns to lead his region against the Scarlets in the LV Cup tonight in Llanelli (6.30pm).

Cardiff Blues captain Andries Pretorius returns to lead his region against the Scarlets in the LV Cup tonight in Llanelli (6.30pm).

The Blues have made seven changes to the side who defeated Wasps last weekend with Wales squad wing Harry Robinson and scrum-half Rob Lewis returning in the backline.

Pretorius is back to lead the side where he will feature in a back-row alongside Thomas Young, while Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams is named among the replacements.

The Scarlets welcome back two of their Welsh internationals, full-back Liam Williams and prop Samson Lee.

The Ospreys have suffered another major injury blow after they revealed Wales prop Adam Jones will join namesake Alun Wyn in missing next month’s Heineken Cup double-header against Toulouse.

Jones will miss the European encounters with the knee injury that ruled him out of the autumn campaign.

And the Lions prop’s absence has been compounded by the loss of fellow Ospreys tight-head Joe Rees to a worrying neck problem.

With Aaron Jarvis in Wales action, the Ospreys hand a debut to rookie tight-head Owen Williams tonight for their visit to face Exeter at Sandy Park in the LV Cup (5pm).

The Dragons are aiming to avoid a record seventh successive defeat when they entertain Northampton tomorrow (3.15pm).

Dan Evans starts at No.10 marking a new half-back combination for the region with the former Scarlets star alongside experienced Wayne Evans who has his first start for the Dragons after recovering from a back injury.

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